Buying a 5d mark ii what should my first L lens should I buy?
- Thread starter bigdogmn73
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briansquibb
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On a 5DII I would suggest that the two obvious general purpose lens are the 24-105L and the 70-200f/2.8L II.
Those are the two that I take in my walkabout bag (and also the same two lens with the 7D if I am going out in the coutryside for a walk). A good wa to add is the 17-40f4L.
Brian
Those are the two that I take in my walkabout bag (and also the same two lens with the 7D if I am going out in the coutryside for a walk). A good wa to add is the 17-40f4L.
Brian
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I've had pretty much every lens mentioned in this thread, I'd suggest the 50mm 1.4 and 24-70 f/2.8 as well. I had the 1.4 before I got the 1.2 and there isn't much of a difference in sharpness, it's more color rendition, bokeh quality, and build quality, but I assure you you'll be happy with the 1.4.
But at the same time, if you can live without autofocus, the Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 is right between Canon's 1.4 and 1.2 in terms of price.
As for the 24-70, the 24-105 is much lighter and the IS works very well, but if you're shooting in low-light the f/4 may start to hurt you. The 24-70 is a great lens though, very sharp for a zoom (although I've had a few copies that weren't so great).
Don't go crazy buying lenses like I did, I bought a 5DII and had 12 lenses a month later (9 or 10 were L's). All it did was make it harder to them, so I cut my collection down gradually. Just get a couple, learn them, and enjoy!
But at the same time, if you can live without autofocus, the Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 is right between Canon's 1.4 and 1.2 in terms of price.
As for the 24-70, the 24-105 is much lighter and the IS works very well, but if you're shooting in low-light the f/4 may start to hurt you. The 24-70 is a great lens though, very sharp for a zoom (although I've had a few copies that weren't so great).
Don't go crazy buying lenses like I did, I bought a 5DII and had 12 lenses a month later (9 or 10 were L's). All it did was make it harder to them, so I cut my collection down gradually. Just get a couple, learn them, and enjoy!
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Ok, I'm going to suggest something that you didn't mention but I think it is a good idea.
Get a 50mm f1.4 and the 135mm f2.0. You've got the 50mm for walk around if that is what you need and you have the 135mm for portraits. Plus you have excellent low light capability on both.
Get a 50mm f1.4 and the 135mm f2.0. You've got the 50mm for walk around if that is what you need and you have the 135mm for portraits. Plus you have excellent low light capability on both.
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mreco99
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this thread is right up my street, as i will be getting teh 5dm2 + lenses this weekend, i think i will be going for the 70-200 mk2 + 2x converter, canon 17-40mm, and the canon 24-105, and if i can stretch to it, the canon 100mm macro, and really i want a set of cokin P or Z filters, oh and ill need a new backpack. Do you think the local store, jessops, will do a deal? if they dont ill be getting online.
I currently have (amongst others) a tokina 11-16, nice but no award winner, too much CA for one
Cant wait for the 5Dm3 any longer, especially as it might be a year away.
I currently have (amongst others) a tokina 11-16, nice but no award winner, too much CA for one
Cant wait for the 5Dm3 any longer, especially as it might be a year away.
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i have a 60d with a 24-70 and a 70-200 f2.8 L is usm mk2 both superb lenses and i have a good ranger covered i am going to go for the 5d mk2 also unless a mk3 is announced tonight 
i also have a 50 1.8 too but since i got my L glass its never been used but will keep for backup. i would like to say for portraiture a 70-200 is essential in my and many others opinions
i also have a 50 1.8 too but since i got my L glass its never been used but will keep for backup. i would like to say for portraiture a 70-200 is essential in my and many others opinions
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Bill Pryor
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I shoot mostly video with my 5DII but some stills. Probably my most used lens is the Zeiss 50 f1.4. Then I use my old Nikkors with adapters, including the 24, 35, 105 and 50 micro. For shooting interviews I have the Canon 70-200 F4. I got that one over the f2.8 because it's lighter in weight and doesn't need a lens support for tripod use.
Most of what I do is under controlled situations so using primes is fine. But I also do quite a bit of run-'n-gun documentary type things, and while switching out lenses is quick, switching out ND filters adds to the time. I have to take off the lens, put the next lens on, take one or more ND filters off the first lens and put them on the second lens. I use all 77mm filters with stepdown rings, so I don't have to worry about different thread sizes. Most people use a mattebox and 4x4 filters, but to me that adds weight and bulk.
So, because of the doc-style work I do, my next lens will be the 24-105. I started to buy it with the camera for that kit price but didn't. Now I wish I had. It's a great lens if you want to just go out with a single lens. And for a zoom it's nice and sharp and has that great Canon color, much like my ancient Nikkors. For my work, I rarely open up beyond an f4 anyway, unless I really need to blur the background so much that you can't tell what's there. The DOF of the 5D is so shallow that generally I shoot at a 5.6. I think that for most of what I do I could live with the 24-105 and the 50 f1.4 for situations where I need a bigger aperture.
That's a long winded response, but the point is--what type of work are you doing for the most part? That will determine the best lenses for you. If all i did was location documentary style things, the 24-105 and the 70-200 would be all I'd need. For studio work, dolly shots, Steadicam work, etc., I prefer using primes.
Most of what I do is under controlled situations so using primes is fine. But I also do quite a bit of run-'n-gun documentary type things, and while switching out lenses is quick, switching out ND filters adds to the time. I have to take off the lens, put the next lens on, take one or more ND filters off the first lens and put them on the second lens. I use all 77mm filters with stepdown rings, so I don't have to worry about different thread sizes. Most people use a mattebox and 4x4 filters, but to me that adds weight and bulk.
So, because of the doc-style work I do, my next lens will be the 24-105. I started to buy it with the camera for that kit price but didn't. Now I wish I had. It's a great lens if you want to just go out with a single lens. And for a zoom it's nice and sharp and has that great Canon color, much like my ancient Nikkors. For my work, I rarely open up beyond an f4 anyway, unless I really need to blur the background so much that you can't tell what's there. The DOF of the 5D is so shallow that generally I shoot at a 5.6. I think that for most of what I do I could live with the 24-105 and the 50 f1.4 for situations where I need a bigger aperture.
That's a long winded response, but the point is--what type of work are you doing for the most part? That will determine the best lenses for you. If all i did was location documentary style things, the 24-105 and the 70-200 would be all I'd need. For studio work, dolly shots, Steadicam work, etc., I prefer using primes.
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aldvan
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Since you are asking for an advice of this kind, I'm sure you haven't already a personal style or a personal approach to the photography, and I guess you are looking for one.
In this case I strongly suggest to you not to go for the usual suspects, like general purpose zoom like 24-105 or 24-70 or a standard 50. Try a long tele prime or zoom, or a very short WA or WA zoom, may be a shift WA or a fisheye. Don't forget that photography, out of some professional fields, is matter of interpretation of reality. Behind a long tele, or a short WA, you have to select or incorporate things in a way very different from the regular perception. It will be a very satisfying and crative experience, much more intriguing then just taking the usual portraits of wives and kids...
In this case I strongly suggest to you not to go for the usual suspects, like general purpose zoom like 24-105 or 24-70 or a standard 50. Try a long tele prime or zoom, or a very short WA or WA zoom, may be a shift WA or a fisheye. Don't forget that photography, out of some professional fields, is matter of interpretation of reality. Behind a long tele, or a short WA, you have to select or incorporate things in a way very different from the regular perception. It will be a very satisfying and crative experience, much more intriguing then just taking the usual portraits of wives and kids...
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bigdogmn73 said:
Some portrait primes:
Canon 135mm f/2L
Canon 85mm f/1.2L
Sigma 85mm f/1.4L
These are lenses in the classic portrait focal lengths. The Sigma and the 135 are both quite affordable ($1000US), Canon's lens is more expensive. Of course there's Canon's 50mm and 35mm L lenses, but these aren't really "portrait" focal lengths (though still great for people photos)
Re choosing a zoom lens, if you're photographing people most of the time, I'd suggest the faster lens over the extra zoom range. The extra stop is much more useful than extra range.
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